In
session 12 on the topic of Eschatology we rapidly hiked our way through the vast
subjects of “last days” and the thought provoking subject matter at first glance
of what is the meaning.
The
End? Curtains Close? Party’s Over? Lights out? Came to mind along with the
brief cartoon visuals of fluffy clouds and learning to play the harp while
floating about the heavens. Humorous, yes, but the jewel of knowledge is in the
subject of all the many ways in which we live in a culture of viewpoints and
beliefs. We must be open and gain an understanding of all paths of belief, but
not necessarily endorse or adopt one or the other for oneself.
Dr.
Shepherd asked a group from a variety of backgrounds a thought-provoking
question: “What happens when you die?” Here are the answers:
·
Heaven or Hell
immediately.
·
Heaven or Hell
or Purgatory.
·
Sleep until
judgment, then Heaven or Hell.
·
Sleep until
judgment, then life in paradise for "little flock" and extinction for
non-believers in Jehovah.
·
Oneness with God
if ready, otherwise reincarnation.
·
I don't know. I
don't like to think about death.
·
Nothing
happens--when you're dead, you're dead.
·
Heaven for
everybody. (YAY!)
·
Heaven for good
people; everyone else goes to " ____ " -your pick “a place you would rather not spend eternity” perhaps a city and state?
I
would like to think if we are speaking of a “place and time” heaven would be
spent with friends and family you love and admire and hell a place to spend
with those “other” ones. OOPS… sounds like life hear and now (at times)…. I spend
a lot of time in Heaven :)
Of course now that we all have caller I.D. I
can see when "hell" is ringing and send it to voice mail.
Today,
(and let me point out this idea has changed at least 5 times in the last four
decades) I am in another stage of discovery. Especially when we looked at
the mathematical impossibility of the reincarnation idea. “7 billion people
could not have lived multiple lives” (Slides 49-53)
I’m
still floating around with that one. It makes a new sort of sense I never
considered before. This again is where I find true knowledge in the challenge of
thinking about where I may be today and my belief system is likely not where I
will be over the next few years HA! “Days”
at this point!
I am open and receptive and using my own
processing to allow form and function to my beliefs. Always prepared for change
(even if it stings a bit)
Doug,
ReplyDeleteI think I believe in reincarnation. I don’t remember any past lives, but I know a few people who have undergone past life regressions. I don’t think it really matters to me one way or the other. I like to think that life is about how we live and I’ll experience death when it comes knocking on my door. The thing for me is to live my life with no regrets, that’s heaven, right here right now. I can’t undo the regrets I may have had about my life before I came to this realization, but I no longer regret any of it. My bucket list is to live fully every day.
As for the harp playing, I’ll leave that to the people who know how.
Love and light,
Elise
And, mathematically.. if it is the same 4 generations cycling in various combinations - say, 28-30 million souls... who's to say it can't happen? And, what about higher math? Or statistics? There are some folks that can prove anything with numbers, right??? lol
ReplyDeleteI'm on the same page as Elise - live life today, the past lives are done and can take care of themselves. What do I need to do/be today?
I think I still believe in the reincarnation thing. I am not too concerned about the math. With the infinite potential available in the universe, can't souls come from someplace else, too? I see a cosmic waiting line of souls, hoping to get a body! A friend of mine with psychic ability once told me that my two children have much different backgrounds. G is new to this earth and A is an old soul, here for another round. While I've never shared this information with my children, I do find it interesting. G often talks about what is out in space...he really wants to know....like he has been there before. G also has no fear at all. Wouldn't one learn that in past lives? A has more fear. I could sense it in him at about 8 months. It seemed to have come with his baby body package, perhaps from other lives? I've also seen people do breathwork around past life experiences...carrying crap into this life. Once the material is integrated, it is amazing how much it can change someone. The experience just needs a way to be integrated, like any other aspect of self, and then, poof, they are on with their current life. Amazing!!
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